1.1.11

For lack of a better name, I figured using the date would be good as any!

Hi Folks… sorry it has been almost a year since my last post. I have been so preoccupied with no time for any sort of “work-life-balance”, I’ve become unbalanced. I took for granted that I had been successful at working out, eating well and keeping off the weight  – so much so, I started to backslide. I slid back into this wave of unhealthy eating, not exercising as much, working a little too much and just losing a sense of myself. Five years of positive results almost down the drain in three short months! I had forgotten the reason I was “mad & fat”! Slowly but surely, it is all starting to come back to me.

The result – WEIGHT GAIN!

I started this blog almost three years ago; by doing so it made me feel more accountable to myself and my personal goals. It made me feel more connected to folks who felt & thought like me. Somewhere between now & then I lost that. I neglected this blog the same way I had neglected myself, the readers & responders. At one time the blog was a part of me and I enjoyed updating it. I can look back at each of these posts and know where I was, what got me excited,  and what I was influenced by. I found humor in what made me “mad & fat”, and when you can find humor in yourself and be brutally honest, that is when you know you have crossed a hurdle.

Today, 1.1.11 – I’m back in the race!

In my effort to find some “work-life-balance” and get back to a more comfortable place in my life, I have to make time for what I deem important. My health, heck – my life is the most important thing. I need to be good to myself and get it together. Once I’m good to myself, I can be “even better” for other people whether it be a better daughter, friend or overall person.

This blog is on my list of important things. FitStyle 360, is on the list of important things. It allows me to use my passion to bring my friends together and meet new friends. Let’s see where it goes this year!

So, like I said – I’m back in the race. I may not win every race, but I’ll be present and ever-changing; always trying my best to improve. There aren’t quick fixes or instant gratification. It has to become a part of your lifestyle… and you can never forget that.

I pray that this year, I take heed to my own words and make this year & every other year of my life a GREAT ONE!

HAPPY NEW YEAR

What a difference year makes!

Hey Folks… I’M BACK!!!

Well, it’s been a little over a year that I’ve been doing this blog site. I was looking back, and I began writing this blog back in November 2008, shortly after my birthday.

I’ve been slacking off a little bit, but for good reason! I’ve been working a bit harder… at my job and on my 2010 goals. I even got a trainer. I’ve been trying to get other people to live healthy and even started a small Facebook group with a small group of friends and family. Some of us even take part in our group’s health challenge.

FitStyle 360 Fitness Group

However, I’m still very focused on my goal – even though I’m still somewhat “mad & fat”. (LOL) In these next few months, I will still give periodical updates on my progress. Feel free to join the group if you are on Facebook.

Those of you who follow the blog… hit me up and let me know how YOU are doing!

Regaining My Focus…

Hello Folks!

Me, again!! Remember me? I haven’t written in an awful long time and yes, I’m still struggling with the battle of the bulge. Holiday time is especially hard for me. I have had a LOT of work functions, vendors sending food baskets, holiday parties…ugh, the list goes on! I call myself trying to have some type of restraint, but the food is so good. Plus, when you are in a social atmosphere, you just find yourself chatting it up and stuffing food in your mouth!

It all started around Thanksgiving… eating at my parents’ home in NC and for the first time in 2 years I did not cook the entire Thanksgiving dinner. Down south, they do it big… all kinds of fatty foods with all the dressing…and desserts galore!

Among that was the stress of dating the man I had been dating. Sometimes you think the past is familiar and people change… but sometimes it is hard for people to change. I can’t say that people don’t… I did. He didn’t. I changed my ways from not caring about my health and being overweight to doing something about it. It took strong will and determination…drive. For people to change, that is what’s needed. To remain successful, you have to keep supportive & driven people around you. He wasn’t.

With that said… my relationship has ended but I feel good about it. I thought it would tear me up on the inside. I was wrong. What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. I found my love again… working out and the gym. I have slowly but surely started to regain my focus. Love it there, even made some really great friends there at the gym… it’s a social outlet for me as well and what’s even better is that we share a common goal. So, with my good friends…I’m not alone.

GOALS… on to the next one!

Hey Folks!
Me again… LOL! It’s been a minute, but I’m back. I was looking over some of my old posts and realized that I have accomplished one of my long-standing goals. A few weeks ago I finally got my WW Lifetime Card. I met my goal weight a long time ago… but stopped during maintenance. I decided to finally go back after I realized that I did not gain a lot of weight back. So now I only have to weigh in once a week. Thank goodness! But I won’t lie… I feel just as much pressure as I did when I was a weekly member. OMG! Will this feeling ever go away… the feeling of accountability or impending doom if I don’t produce?

Well, at least I can say I achieved my goal. I have some more goals to check off the list. But now I added something else. Me and one of my gym girlfriends decided to do P90x. I mean she has been doing it and I’ve had it, but slacked off. So, she will be my motivation. We will motivate each other. As a result we started a little club at our local gym for those people who are interested in participating. This has also resulted in a new Facebook “fitness group”. I am excited about that because some of us have had some interesting discussions and it has only been the first day. I hope more people decided to join. I love to hear people’s comments and positive feedback!

I’ll be sure to keep you all posted!!! More to come, I’m sure!

GIRLFIGHT… don’t get mad, get fit!

… I should take my own advice!

I am still a little mad, hence the title. I am engaged in a tough fight – BATTLE OF THE BULGE!! I still can’t get the additional weight off, so I guess now it’s time to change my workout program. Funny, I looked at my stats that I reported in my May post and I weigh the same but I lost some inches. So, I guess the additional weight training I had been doing worked out in my favor. As you can see folks, ladies cannot get bulky from losing weights. I actually lost inches and became more toned. NOTE: I like to lift heavy some days. My only cause for concern, I want to drop some extra pounds because I have still have too much weight on my frame.

So, today it is ironic that the movies 300 and Girlfight both came on in the same night. I love the movie 300 and this is my first time watching Girlfight. I like 300 because I think the transformation of the guys in the movie is AWESOME…thanks to Gym Jones! In the past I have applied some of the 300 Workout to my plan. Don’t sleep on that workout. It is tough.

But lately, I realized that I should be changing my workout. I need to shock my body and maybe the stimulation will melt some much needed weight off. So, as I’m watching Girlfight, I am paying more attention to the boxing techniques and workouts. Then I say to myself… boxers have some of the best bodies ever and their endurance is crazy. That is what I need… a healthy body and crazy endurance.

So, I’ve decided to take on some of the same training techniques. I already have gloves, a jump rope and access to a punching bag. Running will be important… and I have access to a track. Then comes the abdominal work. That will be key for me, for that is where I hold much of my weight. What I need now is dedication & commitment.

So, tomorrow… I start the real work! Hopefully I can improve upon my stats below. these are from the last Bikinibook Challenge (Shana Moakler, Facebook Challenge).

CURRENT STATS:

Current Height: 69 in

STARTING WEIGHT: 173 END CHALLENGE: (SAME)

NECK: 14 ” (SAME) END CHALLENGE: (SAME)

STARTING CHEST (UPPER & LOWER): 36 / 31. 5 END CHALLENGE: (SAME)

STARTING L.ARM: 12″ END CHALLENGE: (SAME)

STARTING R.ARM: 12″ END CHALLENGE: (SAME)

STARTING NATURAL WAIST: 31.5″ END CHALLENGE: SAME

STARTING MID-RISE /ABDOMEN: 35″ END CHALLENGE: 34.5

STARTING HIPS: 40.5″ END CHALLENGE: 40

STARTING LEFT THIGH: 22.75″ END CHALLENGE 22.5

STARTING RIGHT THIGH: 22.75″ END CHALLENGE 22.5

STARTING L.CALF: 14 END CHALLENGE: 13.25

STARTING R.CALF: 14 END CHALLENGE 13.25

Is it so wrong…?

… to be almost 50 and seen in a bikini? 

Hey Folks!

I have been such a blogging slacker. But no better time than the present to get back into the groove of things. It feels good to jot down my thoughts again, share any new things I come across and possibly help someone in the process. So, to my friends who follow this blog from time to time… I’M SORRY!!! 

So, now to my question… is it so wrong to be seen in a bikini at a more mature age? I don’t think so. If you look good, or even think you look good… why not? I was wondering about this very subject a couple of months or so back when I was entertained by the war of words between Valerie Bertinelli and Marie Osmond… two of my favorite childhood stars. (am I telling on myself in terms of age??? LOL) 

Take a look at the footage…

So, I have some questions… and I’d like your feedback:
1. Is it so wrong for a woman of a certain age to wear a bikini?
2. Is it wrong for two successful women to display a war of words, when they should be congratulating each other on their weight loss journey/success?
3. Is it so wrong to try to lose weight using pre-packaged meals rather than creating your own healthy meals?

Here is my opinion…
I think if you can wear a bikini and look good… who cares how old you are! I am woman of a certain age and for the first time in a LONG time I wore a bikini on vacation. I think that the last time I had one, I was 5. I don’t think I look the greatest, but I felt good and had the confidence to pull it off. Isn’t that what it’s all about…. feeling good, feeling healthy and confident? Why does it matter how old you are? Personally I think Valerie looks great!

I also think that we, especially as women, should lift each other up! Applaud our successes, support each other when we fall down and help each other through our challenges. I’m sure their back-biting comments were all in fun, but I just took issue with Marie Osmond’s comment about not wanting to see a 49 year old woman in a bikini. Whatever, Marie…

 

I do have strong opinions about “dieting”. I don’t like the word DIET. It is a lifestyle change, and for me prepackaged foods are not part of the lifestyle. I cannot buy this food for the rest of my life… heck, it is not part of the budget now. If I had a family, I could not fix them all the prepackaged meals nor could I afford it. However, what I can do is learn how to fix simple, healthy meals… with ingredients I can easily find at the grocery store or local farmer’s market. Grocery shop is something I will have to do forever, so why not learn how to do it right?

Biggest Loser Disappointment…

Good Morning!

…is anyone out there as disappointed as me that Tara DID NOT win the Biggest Loser? However, I’m equally as impressed with Jerry who I wrote about long ago. He is the older man who fell out the day he got to the ranch. That was scary! When I turned on my television, I didn’t know who he was. I’m like…who the heck is that? Then I realized… OMG! 

However, my girl did not win the show… but I think she is a bigger winner for the fact she won like 12 challenges, never fell below the yellow line for the course of the show (for what I remember) and she achieved a better, healthier lifestyle for herself. 

Reclaiming her health is the best prize EVER!

I’m Still A Little Chunky, but I’m Getting There… Facebook, BikiniBook Group & 2 Week Challenge

Hey Folks!

It has been a while, but I’m trying to catch up and let you all know what is going on. I’m still fighting the battle of the bulge, but it is coming along. I was reading my blog from January 2009 & man did I have big ideas! But there had been some changes in these past few months… more good than bad. Some you already know about, and some you don’t. So, I will try to be as brief as possible…

First, I like to admit that I have become a Facebook junkie. Someone I admire once said… “Friends don’t let friends become Facebook drunk”. LOL! I think I got that right. My bad, if I got that wrong – Alicia. I think I let myself get more than drunk these past few weeks. Any-who… what a wonderful way to catch up with old friends, families & classmates! In the process,  joined a group on Facebook called The BikiniBook. It is ran by fitness model, Alicia Marie and Shanna Moakler (yes, Travis Barkers ex-wife…but most importantly media superstar) and it has AMAZING clean eating and exercise advice.

The group just started a contest in which you get points each day for accomplishing certain tasks. I am a member of Team #12 the BikiniBook Bombshells. I don’t think we are winning, but I feel a personal sense of accomplishment. I have accomplished tasks and lost weight in the process. I am very happy. I didn’t lose a lot of weight, but I feel I’m looking & feeling good right in time for my trip with my new “friend” who I will refer to as Gym Jones. 

Go figure, I met “Gym Jones” at the gym. We’ve known each other or at least been in each other’s presence for almost a year, but recently started dating. He is an awesome friend and partner…and shares my love of health & fitness. Fast forward a few months to now and we have recently planned a trip to Puerto Rico. I am determined to wear my new “bikinis” on this trip. Oddly enough, the BikiniBook Challenge & Gym Jones’s full body workout came right on time for me to prepare.

Gym Jones kicks my butt about 3x a week for at least 2 hours a day. We take a class & then we do a full body workout. First day heavy weights, second day moderate and third day light. We take a min 3 classes each week typically in conjunction with our full body workout. Needless to say, I cherish my days off! Tonight is one of those nights… and I want to share some of my results. 

Well, when I started this blog, I posted some pictures of what my body currently looks like. I spoke of my body denial. LOL! Boy was I ever in denial. I still may be, but at least I’m “coming in” a little bit.

Jan 2006 (not really my heaviest)

Height – 5’9″               Weight – 210        Size – fluctuated between 14/16 & 16/18 and 1x to 2x

Chest – 42.5″          Waist – 43.5″             Hip 44.5″           Arms – 12.5″        Thighs – 25.5″         Calves 14.5″  

 

May 2009

Weight – 173         Chest – 37.5                Hip 41″                Arms – 12              Thighs 23                 Calves 13.5          Waist 31.5    Abdomen 35

 

See my before & after pic. The “before” you have seen already and the new pic is of me now. I am so wanting to rock this bikini in Puerto Rico, but have a little more work to do. 

   

BEFORE  

AFTER

…still have some work to do, but I’m feeling better about my journey.

Reality TV : All About Losing Weight

Hey Folks!

I’m baaaaaaaack!!!! I feel horrible for letting this blog fall to the wayside. However, I will do my best to keep it updated and find some interesting things to talk about each day… or at least once a week.

Since most of you know I like my television, I wanted to share some good finds with you. Well, a couple of them are good and some are suspect. I will let you be the judge!!!

COOKING YOURSELF THIN

I WAN TO SAVE YOUR LIFE

 

Comments? I’d love to hear them!!!

 

Let’s Play Catch Up!

Man, it’s been a minute since I’ve added my two cents to the blog… but I’m back. Recently, I’ve been caught up in this whole “Facebook” thing so I was a bit preoccupied – between that and just life. However, I’m still working on this fitness thing. I’m trying to get it together. It’s a long and hard road, but it has to be done!! I need to re-focus my efforts! I need some support!!!!!!

Where should I start?

BLOOD PRESSURE: well, as most of you know I’ve had a problem with my blood pressure for the past few years. Even when I lost the weight and reached my goal, my blood pressure was still high. As of recently, it has totally gone down. My physical was in December and it was 120/80. Awesome… I recently gone to the doctor to fix my case of (ewwwww…) “pink eye” and a sinus infection (which I swear was a result of me over-training and being exposed to God knows what at that gym) – and I found out my blood pressure was 116/82. I made him check again – LOL!!! I am so proud of myself. Also want to shout out… magnesium & Co-enzyme Q10.

CHLORELLA: is my new favorite supplement! Between that and the massive amounts of water that I try to drink, my skin has been awesome! I also feel like I’m more alert and active. Also, I will mention “my system” is a bit more “regulated”. LOL! Not that I had that problem anyway. I am “regulated” daily, but now I’m “regulated”  more than once a day. I will talk about this supplement a little later in another entry. I feel it deserves its own. However, I will give it some time to see if it is worth really talking about. (I think it will be…)

WEIGHT WATCHERS: is still taking my money, and I’m still foolishly letting them. I need to go back to the meetings – hell, I’m paying for them. I do think it is worth the money. But I want to go back and be the same weight I was when I left or within a couple of pounds so I can still be in the maintenance period. This is why I don’t go back. Like I said, I had reached my goal weight. Then I took some time off… and then during that time I gained about 10 lbs. So, I need to lose this weight before entering their doors. God help me, I’ve been saying this for months… 

But explain this to me, I have not gone up in size and I have lost a few more inches in some spots…but the scale does not read the same. Is it the heavy weights? I like to hear your opinion. Please help!  (you can see my progress on the entry below) 

SPRING IS COMING!!!: okay, didn’t think it was possible knowing the weather here in the big east. However, it is starting to get nice. I love nice weather. But who wants to be a fat girl in the heat? Not me… especially knowing my walk to work. Anyway… I also planned to travel a little bit this year. I wanted to go to maybe, Vegas in May. I also do plan to visit New Orleans for the Essence Festival in July. I HAVE TO LOSE WEIGHT. I may be putting a lot of pressure on myself…but my plan is to lose 20lbs by the time I start to travel again. 

Why is this weight loss thing so terribly hard… especially when you get down to the last few pounds? 

If any of you have any tips, words of encouragement…anything… holla’ at me!!!